Cannes calling: 'Greytown Girl' steals the spotlight with 2025 nomination
Supporting actress Uveka Rangappa and lead actress Sanam Sitaram at the local premiere of "Greytown Girl".
The heart-warming and inspiring film, 'Greytown Girl', has earned a significant nomination at the Cannes Film Awards 2025.
The film, will be in competition among other global films in the Best Indie Feature category and will be screened at the prominent festival.
The 78th edition will be held from May 13 to 24, at the renowned Variétés Movie Theatre in France.
"Greytown Girl" is a poignant biopic that tells the true story of Meena played by newcomer Sanam Sitaram, a resilient girl from a small town in South Africa, born with physical challenges and abandoned as an infant.
Against all odds, she rises above her circumstances by embracing the power of letter writing, ultimately finding love that transcends borders.
The film stars many industry favourites, including Emmanuel Castis, Jack Devnarain and Linda Sokhulu, among others.
Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darrell Roodt, the film encapsulates themes of resilience, unconditional love, and the unyielding spirit of a woman who emerges triumphant despite formidable obstacles.
The creative visionary behind the touching narrative is Rani Sitaram, a producer and writer renowned for her innovative contributions to both fiction and non-fiction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
a day ago
- The Herald
Harvey Weinstein judge declares mistrial on rape charge, third sex crimes trial planned
Weinstein cofounded the Miramax studio, whose hit movies included Academy Award winners as Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction . Weinstein's downfall began in 2017 and helped spark the #MeToo movement which encouraged women to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men. A different jury in the Manhattan court found Weinstein guilty in 2020 of raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley, but New York state's highest court overturned the conviction last year. More than 100 women have accused Weinstein of misconduct. Thursday's mistrial came one day after the jury foreman told Farber other jurors were shouting at and threatening him for refusing to change his vote on the rape count. The foreman did not indicate publicly how he planned to vote, and Farber sent jurors home to cool off. The prosecution told the 12 jurors in closing arguments on June 3 the evidence showed how Weinstein used his power and influence to trap and abuse women. The defence countered the accusers lied in the witness box out of spite after their consensual sexual encounters with the Oscar-winning producer failed to result in Hollywood stardom. Weinstein's eponymous film studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018, five months after sexual misconduct accusations against him were widely publicised. Reuters
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Warren Masemola's Tribute Sparks Debate: What Not to Say at a Memorial Service
Warren Masemola, who was a close friend to Presley Chweneyagae, speaking on stage during the late actor's funeral. What began as a heartfelt tribute to a fallen friend has turned into a national conversation about grief, boundaries, and respect. Actor Warren Masemola's emotionally raw speech at the memorial service for fellow actor Presley Chweneyagae has sparked debate over what should — and should not — be said at funerals. Held at the Akasia Community Hall in Pretoria, the service was a sombre farewell to Chweneyagae, beloved for his breakout role in the Oscar-winning film Tsotsi. Friends, family, and industry colleagues gathered to honour the life of the 40-year-old actor, who died last week following a short illness. But Masemola's speech quickly took centre stage — and not for the reasons many expected. 'Presley and I fought a lot,' Masemola told the crowd. 'We fought about love, money, families, and children. But we also enjoyed kissing so much.' The unexpected intimacy of the comment was met with stunned silence in the hall, followed by a wave of commentary online. While some praised Masemola for his courage and honesty in revealing the complexities of their friendship, others felt the statement was too personal for a public event. 'This was not the time or place for such a confession,' one social media user wrote. 'Funerals should comfort the living, not shock them.' Another countered, 'Warren was brave — he loved Presley and said so. Why should that be hidden?' The incident has since fueled a broader discussion: What are the unwritten rules of funeral speeches? And how much honesty is too much? Cultural psychologist Dr. Thandi Mokoena told another publication that memorial services require sensitivity and awareness of shared grief. 'These are sacred communal spaces. Emotions run high, and anything said should be measured against the mood of the room, not just the feelings of the speaker,' she explained. 'It's not just about expressing grief; it's also about respecting others who are mourning differently.' Mokoena emphasised that deeply personal revelations — especially those that could be surprising or controversial — might be better reserved for private conversations or tributes outside the memorial context. 'Words at funerals should heal and unite, not complicate or confuse.' This is not the first time public tributes have walked a fine line. Across cultures, mourners are often advised to avoid clichés like 'He's in a better place now,' which may unintentionally cause pain. Similarly, bringing up the deceased's lifestyle, past mistakes, or cause of death is generally discouraged, as it can come off as judgmental or insensitive. 'Sometimes, people feel pressured to say something profound,' said grief counsellor Sello Maduna. 'But the most powerful words at a funeral are often the simplest: 'I'm sorry for your loss,' or 'I'm here for you.'' Chweneyagae's family has not publicly responded to Masemola's speech. Those in attendance say the mood after the tribute shifted noticeably, with some unsure how to process the moment. Nonetheless, the memorial remained a moving celebration of a life that had a profound impact on South African arts and storytelling. As the country reflects on Chweneyagae's legacy and the nature of public mourning, Masemola's tribute stands as a potent reminder: grief may be personal, but a memorial is a shared space — and the words spoken there can either soothe or sting.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Harvey Weinstein convicted of sex crime amid contentious jury deliberations
A Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty on a sex crimes charge on Wednesday, though the jury has not yet reached a verdict on all counts the former movie mogul faces in deliberations that have been marred by infighting and threats. Weinstein, once one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood, is facing a retrial after a state appeals court last year overturned his 2020 conviction. He was accused by prosecutors in the case of raping an aspiring actress and assaulting two other women. Weinstein, 73, pleaded not guilty and has denied assaulting anyone or having non-consensual sex. The jury found Weinstein guilty on one of the three counts he faced, which stemmed from his alleged assault of former production assistant Miriam Haley in 2006. The jury found Weinstein not guilty of a charge stemming from his alleged assault of Kaja Sokola in 2002 when she was a 16-year-old aspiring actress. The jury has not yet reached a verdict on a third count, which charges him with raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. They will resume deliberations on that count on Thursday. Regardless of their eventual verdict on the rape charge, Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced. He has separately been sentenced to 16 years in prison after a rape conviction in California. Jurors in the New York case reached their partial verdict on the fifth day of sometimes fractious deliberations. Before the jury announced their verdict on Wednesday, justice Curtis Farber met privately with one person on the 12-member jury referred to as Juror One. The judge then stated in open court that there had been 'fighting' in the jury room. 'Juror One has made it very clear that he is not going to change his position,' Farber said, adding that Juror One did not tell him what his position was. 'He indicated that at least one other juror made comments to the juror that 'I'll meet you outside one day,' and there's yelling and screaming.' Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala asked for a mistrial. As Farber was preparing to dismiss jurors for the day to give them a chance to 'cool off', the jury sent a note indicating it had reached a verdict on some counts. The retrial began on April 23. Weinstein has had a litany of health problems and attended the retrial in a wheelchair. In closing arguments on June 3, the prosecution told the 12 jurors that the evidence showed how Weinstein used his power and influence to trap and abuse women. The defence countered that the accusers lied on the witness stand out of spite after their consensual sexual encounters with the Oscar-winning producer failed to result in Hollywood stardom. #METOO MILESTONE A jury had in February 2020 found Weinstein guilty of raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley. Sokola's allegation was not part of that case. The conviction was a milestone for the #MeToo movement, which encouraged women to come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by powerful men. But the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, threw out that conviction in April 2024. It said the trial judge erred by letting women testify that Weinstein had assaulted them, though their accusations were not the basis of the criminal charges. Though the conviction was thrown out, Weinstein has remained behind bars because of his California conviction. He is appealing against that verdict. More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct. The retrial was handled by prosecutors with the office of Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. They portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who promised career advancement in Hollywood to women, only to then coax them into private settings where he attacked them. The defence rejected that characterisation, saying Weinstein engaged in 'mutually beneficial' relationships with his accusers, who ended up with auditions and other show business opportunities. Weinstein cofounded the Miramax studio, whose hit movies included Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction. His own eponymous film studio filed for bankruptcy in March 2018, five months after sexual misconduct accusations against him became widely publicised. Weinstein has experienced several health episodes while being held at New York City's Rikers Island jail, and in September was rushed to a hospital for emergency heart surgery.
